A Washington Takeover of Health Care

In his September 9th address to Congress and the American people, President Obama acknowledged that, “my health care proposal has…been attacked by some who oppose reform as a ‘government takeover’ of the entire health care system.”

The President attempted to refute this claim and defended the idea of a public option as a means to enhance competition amongst private insurance companies. The President emphasized that the intention behind creating a public option was not to put insurers out of business, but to hold them accountable.

But health reform, with a public option, would amount to a Washington takeover of the current system. It would likely put a majority of Americans in public coverage and would concentrate unprecedented power in the federal government. In addition to rising enrollment in Medicare and expansions in Medicaid, reform with a so-called public option could result in the dependence of 74% of Americans on government controlled health care.

Giving the government monopoly control over health care coverage will force doctors and hospitals to accept federally-dictated reimbursement rates to an even greater extent than they already do with Medicare and Medicaid. As Heritage’s Dennis Smith puts it, “Federal funding will not just affect the market; it will become the market–doctors and hospitals will not be able to opt out or avoid it.” Under bills in Congress, doctors participating in Medicare could be required to participate in the new public plan, which will dictate reimbursement rates for doctors and hospitals. With 246 million Americans in public coverage, health care providers will have no choice but to comply with the dictates of the federal government if they choose to stay in business. If this isn’t a government takeover, what is?

What is more, government’s reach will extend well beyond the 74% of Americans enrolled in public coverage. The 89 million Americans remaining in private insurance will also be burdened by new government rules and regulations. While their health insurance may be private in name it will be defined and controlled by the government at the federal level. Under the legislation in both the House and the Senate, an individual mandate will dictate what insurance must look like and what is and is not an acceptable level of coverage. Individuals and families with plans that do not meet the new federal standards will be required by law to pay a tax penalty.
Though the President and congressional Democrats continue to insist that they are not attempting a Washington takeover of health care, their claims fly in the face of the facts.

Join The Discussion

It's maddening! If you want to truly fix the cause of the high cost of health care – go after the source. Unfortunately, our leaders believe that the source of problem (of all problems) is greediness in the public sector (ie. people making too much money) when the truth is the problem is that we don't have enough people contributing productively. Costs are high exactly because programs like Medicare and Medicaid pay pennies on the value of medical care forcing the rest of us to pay twice as much just so costs are covered. Tell me exactly what will happen when there is no longer a "rest of us".

It's very frustrating because some people I know (mostly in Michigan) dismiss all of the facts that I try to share with them about Obamacare. They think Obamacare will insure everyone and we all be better off. And since I have not read every page of every bill then I don’t know what I'm talking about. These people I am reffering to think they know what's in the bills because Obama tells them. They even know he lies, but tell me it's okay because all politicians do it.

Because of their own personal reasons or government's intentional intimidation, people have become easily influenced to accept the more simpler answer to any (government made, unknown to them) crisis and put their trust in (unknown to them) disgraceful, unAmerican, unconstitutional, indignant, purging, brainwashing government of America.

What is even more maddening is that health insurance companies even exist. Insurance is for cars, not people. Insurance companies are modern day money laundering schemes. Single payer, public or private is the only answer. http://www.pnhp.org/

It would be helpful to many Americans, if Heritage could publish the specific tax effects and if possilbe the probable unintended consequences of the various provisions in the most like version of a congressional health care bill that would pass. Perhaps break it out into the top two most likely scenarios. break the tax consequences out for various age and income classes of people. thanks

WHAT THIS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT IS __POWER___. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR A LIVING WANT OUR LEADERS TO FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY THROUGH STOPPING EARMARK WASTE AND FRAUD, RIDDING OUR SOCIETY OF –ILLEGALS–, AND TAX REDUCTIONS TO ALLOW OUR FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM TO WORK. WE DO NOT WANT THE SOCIALISM THAT THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP, WHO HAVE SOLD OUT TO SPECIAL INTERESTS LIKE AL GORE, ARE TRYING TO WEDGE US INTO !!! WAKE UP. ACT LIKE THE PEOPLE'S CONGRESS THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE.

The Medicare Advantage is very helpful , Medigap plans can help pay for changes that would otherwise have to be paid for out of a person’s own pocket.. In addition, Medicare Advantage covers a number of things that are not covered by basic plans. Medigap insurance policies are sold by private insurance companies and are designed to supplement Medicare.http://medigap-insurance.org/

The Medicare Advantage is very helpful, Medigap plans can help pay for changes that would otherwise have to be paid for out of a person’s own pocket.In addition, Medicare Advantage covers a number of things that are not covered by basic plans.Medigap insurance policies are sold by private insurance companies and are designed to supplement Medicare.http://medigap-insurance.org/

Don’t have time to read the Washington Post or New York Times? Then get The Morning Bell, an early morning edition of the day’s most important political news, conservative commentary and original reporting from a team committed to following the truth no matter where it leads.

Email address

Ever feel like the only difference between the New York Times and Washington Post is the name? We do. Try the Morning Bell and get the day’s most important news and commentary from a team committed to the truth in formats that respect your time…and your intelligence.